Not only did Archers make their UK debut, they did it in the utmost style by making their first show here Download Festival. Hailing from Wisconsin their fan base have truly made their voices heard and have helped to propel them into sold out headline shows. With a new EP ‘Temporary High’ under their belt, Archers continue to make waves in the industry. Aggy caught up with drummer Grayson for a chat on how they got here, how they prepare for their show and how they put together their latest body of work.
So, how did you find your set? Did you enjoy it?
Grayson: It was amazing, yeah. This is our first UK show ever. There’s not a better place we could have done it than Download. We had an early timeslot, and the crowd was amazing. So, I really had no complaints. I’m on Cloud Nine right now.
What does it mean to you to play somewhere like Download?
Grayson: Oh, I mean, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s a dream come true. I’ve been watching Download videos since I could remember; watching band interviews with my favourite bands, and I was like, “Man, it would be really cool if I got to play there one day.” This is like The bucket list festival for me. Not an American festival. Not anywhere else. Download was always the one for me, and to knock it out for my first UK show, I could not ask for more.
You’ve released a new EP ‘Temporary High’ . Can you tell us a bit about that?
Grayson: Yeah, I mean, we went and recorded it with Matt Goode in Arizona, who’s worked with Memphis May Fire, Asking Alexandria, Sleeping With Sirens. He’s just kinda the man, and it’s our first label release ever out on SBG Records. We’ve been working on it for about a year straight which is kinda crazy to think about now that it’s out. It’s done. Now all we have to do is talk about it.
You’re just riding the wave now.
Grayson: Yeah, it’s super cool. Super cool. Fans seem to love it, so I can’t ask for much more.
Have you got any more UK shows after this?
Grayson: Yeah we have a headliner in Bristol, and then we have a day off. Then in London it actually sold out before we even came over here. Not a bad way to end our tour over here.
Yeah, you’re really popular. We’ve been hearing a lot of people talk about you guys.
Grayson: That’s what I’ve heard, so… It’s crazy.
You guys are from Wisconsin?
Grayson: The band is from Wisconsin; started in Wisconsin. Two of us still live there, and then two of us live in Indiana. So, I’m from Indiana, but the guys started the band in Wisconsin.
Has your sound changed at all? For you, how has it progressed from then until now?
Grayson: from that first EP, it’s changed a lot, and honestly, that’s us getting better. Us having a more clear vision of what we want. Getting in the room with people like Matt, and even our old producers like Nick and John. There’s been a lot of progression, and it makes me even more excited for what we do next. I was just talking to my manager earlier, and we’ve already got people knocking on the door because of Temporary High, so we’ve gotta keep it rolling.
Are you getting to stay at the festival to experience it a bit, or are you shooting off?
Grayson: All we’re doing today is hanging out. We’re talking to some awesome people like you, and watching some bands. We’re not leaving until it’s done.
Who’s on your hitlist?
Grayson: President is number one. I’m very, very excited for President. I was just talking to our agent earlier. I was like, “I don’t care what I have to do when… I’m making that set happen. That’s my number one. We’re going out with Nothing More next year, so we wanted to catch their set, but unfortunately missed it. Korn, Bullet, Spiritbox today. Spiritbox would be sick.
Have you guys got any pre-show rituals, or anything like that that you do? How do you prepare and psyche yourself up to get on stage?
Grayson: Yeah, we all kinda have our own thing we do. I’m a drummer, so I gotta stretch. Get the limbs ready, get my muscles ready. I get really quiet before we play, and run my mind through the set. Then right before we go on, as soon as our intro starts rolling, we have a pre-show chant we do.
Oh, yeah? What’s that?
Grayson: “Hot moms!” *laughs* It started on my first tour with the band and just became what we did, and now we’ve been doing it for four years.
You joined four years ago then?
Grayson: Yeah, I’m the newest, so I’m four years in.
Oh, excellent. So, what’s it like for you to join the band? Obviously, they were around beforehand; do you feel like you’re properly part of the furniture now?
Grayson: The dust is kinda settling you know what I mean? As soon as I started, it’s just like… the first tour that I ever did with them was the first tour that they’ve ever done. So, I just got thrown in at the deep end, and instantly started on touring, and I became a big part of the creative process for our visuals, the album artwork, our merch. All that stuff. The wheels have honestly just been turning, and now we’re four years in. So who knows where we’ll be four years from now.
Have you got any messages for your fans?
Grayson: Thank you. This band got ignored by the industry for so long, and it’s because of our fans that people are finally starting to pay attention, and finally starting to look at us, and finally seeing us as something worth value, so a massive thank you. We really can’t do this without them.
Interview and photo by Aggy Gillon